A little more than five years ago, Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi swapped five players, including top prospect Adam Jones, to the Baltimore Orioles for Erik Bedard, then a coveted left hander. In part because Bedard couldn’t stay healthy, he was never more than a .500 pitcher for the Mariners. Jones has twice been an All-Star since exiting Seattle.

At the trading deadline in 2011, Bavasi’s successor, Jack Zduriencik, in a three-team (Red Sox, Dodgers) deal, sent Bedard to Boston along with Josh Fields and got back AAA outfielder Trayvon Robinson (from L.A.) and AA outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang (Boston).

After Robinson hit just .215 in 90 games for Seattle (2011-12), Zduriencik swapped him to Baltimore for Robert Andino, a backup currently on the Mariners’ roster. Chih-Hsien Chiang never played for Seattle — or in the majors — and is now in the Texas system.

Bedard lasted half a season in Boston (1-2, 4.03 ERA), signed as a free agent with Pittsburgh (7-14, 5.01 ERA in 2012) and now finds himself with the Houston Astros, his fourth team in three years, for whom he will face the Mariners in the second of a three-game series at Safeco Field.

Bedard was a pretty good pitcher in 2006 and 2007, which is why Bavasi wanted him. But he had Tommy John surgery and two shoulder surgeries to go with eight trips to the disabled list since. His latest medical setback occurred in the spring when he came down with — ahem — a strained gluteal muscle, or as you might call it, a sore butt.

Bedard recovered sufficiently to record a save for Houston in his first appearance, and now will make his first start, opposite rookie Brandon Maurer, in search of his first major league win.

Tuesday seems a ripe time to get it. After winning their opener, the Astros have dropped six in a row, including a 3-0 decision to the Mariners in their home opener Monday night. In those six, the Astros have been outscored 37-9, suffered three shutouts and struck out 69 times. A closer look at Tuesday’s probables:

Maurer pitched fairly efficiently (no walks) in his debut against Oakland last week, but was wild in the strike zone and gave up two home runs. When he made that start, Maurer became the first Seattle pitcher to make the jump from AA ball to the majors since Mike Hampton and John Cummings in 1993. Maurer earned his spot in the rotation with an outstanding spring, in which he went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in seven appearances, including four starts.

LAST VS. ASTROS: Never pitched; Maurer will be making his second career start and his first at Safeco Field.

At AA Jackson last year, Maurer was the Southern League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher after going 9-2 with a 3.20 ERA (49 ER, 137.2 IP) in 24 starts. The Mariners also named Maurer the minor league system’s Most Improved Player.

Maurer led the Southern League with an .818 winning percentage and ranked fifth in ERA He tied for the Generals’ lead in wins (9), while leading the team in strikeouts (117) and innings pitched (137.1).

Over his final 14 starts, from June 1-Aug. 16, Maurer went 7-1 with a 2.50 ERA (24 ER, 86.1 IP) and recorded 10 quality starts.

Maurer graduated from Orange Lutheran (CA) High School in 2008, and was selected in the 23rd round of the June draft that year. Since then, he pitched in the Arizona Rookie League, Class A Clinton in the Midwest League (2010-11), Class A High Desert (2011) in the California League and AA Jackson.

Between 2008-11, Bedard, 34, made just 46 starts, compiling a 15-14 record and 3.31 ERA. Traded July 31, 2011, Bedard pitched for the Red Sox, Pirates and Astros, winning eight games while losing 16. The Astros used him in long relief March 31 against Texas. He’ll be making his first start of the season.

LAST APPEARANCE: March 31 vs. Texas, collected a save in an 8-2 victory over the Rangers; worked 3.1 innings of relief, allowing just 1 hit; 2 strikeouts, no walks, 38 pitches, 26 for strikes.

LAST VS. MARINERS: June 4, 2007, took a no-decision in Baltimore’s 7-4 loss at Safeco Field; 3 earned run on 8 hits in 6.0 innings; 7 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 home run.

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